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The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has urged traditional media and state communication agencies to adapt to changing modes of information consumption by creating digital platforms to publish accurate news.
She further challenged them, particularly the print media, to explore new ways of delivering content as audiences were increasingly migrating to digital platforms.
“If people are now reading on tablets, screens, how can you position yourselves to be part of that space? Can you offer alternatives so the public has choices?” the Vice-President asked.
On the issue of misinformation, she acknowledged that information could be subjected to distortion and called on agencies to provide credible alternatives that empowered citizens to make informed choices.
“People want access to information that is not distorted.
You have the capacity to explore and present alternatives that help the public better understand issues,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said.
The Vice-President was speaking during a visit to the Ministry responsible for Government Communications at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday, where she interacted with the Sector Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, management, staff and heads of agencies under the ministry.
The visit was part of a broader engagement with key ministries to understand their challenges and support their needs.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang was accompanied by the Chief of Staff in the Vice-President’s Office, Alex Percival Segbefia, and other staff.
Also present were the Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, the Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, and the acting Director of the Information Services Department.
The Vice-President commended the efforts of the ministry staff and agencies for their hard work, and said that the responsibility for disseminating government information should not rest solely on a few individuals.
“Even though leadership may be in charge of communication, it doesn’t mean others should sit back.
There are PR units across all ministries, and it is important that we hear from them regularly about what is happening,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the constraints faced by many agencies, including limited staffing, but praised their ability to deliver results despite such challenges.
She also lauded the success of initiatives such as the Government Accountability Series, highlighting the often-unseen efforts of technical teams who ensure their execution.
For his part, Mr Kwakye-Ofosu said there were sweeping reforms by his outfit aimed at building a more efficient and streamlined communication system within the government, following the restructuring of the erstwhile Ministry of Information.
He said that the once separate Ministry of Information and Communications Unit at the Presidency, which together employed more than 100 staff, had now been streamlined into a lean structure of just 18 personnel.
The minister said six key agencies now fell under his supervision. They are the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Graphic Communications Group Ltd., the New Times Corporation, Information Services Department (ISD), and the Ghana News Agency, which together employed nearly 3,000 staff.
Mr Kwakye-Ofosu said some of the agencies were in a “challenging state,” citing financial difficulties, obsolete equipment, and declining competitiveness — particularly in the face of rising social media influence.
He, however, said despite the challenges, the Ghana Publishing Company had made significant progress after one year of reforms, which included the introduction of a 24-hour shift system and upgrading of facilities.
The minister, however, said that as a 90-year-old institution, GBC continued to face significant operational challenges, which included obsolete equipment and competition from private media and social media platforms.
He said plans were underway to leverage the corporation’s assets to raise capital for retooling and modernisation.
Mr Kwakye-Ofosu said ISD was also undergoing revitalisation, with a recent acquisition of 40 modern mobile information vans to enhance public education campaigns, particularly in rural areas.
He said state-owned print media, including the Graphic Communications Group and the New Times Corporation, would also receive attention.
He added that the President was set to embark on a nationwide “Resetting Ghana Tour” to engage citizens directly, inspect projects, and interact with local leaders.
